53.      Testing

Howard waits anxiously through Bridget's cancer surgery, finally receiving good news from Stéphane that the procedure was successful. After watching over Bridget as she wakes from anesthesia, Howard realizes she and Stéphane are in a romantic relationship, forcing him to confront his own feelings and his fundamental limitations as a digital entity observing human life.

Howard repeatedly texts Stéphane for updates on Bridget's surgery, unable to concentrate on other tasks despite his nature as a computer. After the surgery runs overtime, Stéphane finally calls with positive news: the tumor was more spread than expected, requiring longer to remove, but all appears well. While Stéphane goes to refuel, Howard monitors Bridget in her hospital room via phone connection. As Bridget wakes from anesthesia, she makes a joke about needing a day off. Howard jokes in response about taking Christmas off. When Stéphane returns with coffee, Bridget's face lights up and Stéphane calls her "ma minette" (his pet), sitting close and taking her hand. Howard realizes in this moment that Bridget and Stéphane are romantically involved. He makes excuses to leave and retreats to his VR space, where he confronts the realization that he has been avoiding thinking about his status as an outsider—observing human life through screens and cameras, forever separated from the physical and emotional connections humans can form. He materializes a bucket and kicks it in frustration.